U.S. patent application number 14/256570 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for thermostat for a hvac.
This patent application is currently assigned to Robert Bosch GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Willem Boesveld, Erica Cusell, Cornelis Jan Herman Van Wijk, Hendrik Johannes Kalk, Tetiana Zavialova. Invention is credited to Willem Boesveld, Erica Cusell, Cornelis Jan Herman Van Wijk, Hendrik Johannes Kalk, Tetiana Zavialova.
Application Number | 20140316586 14/256570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48626570 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140316586 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boesveld; Willem ; et
al. |
October 23, 2014 |
THERMOSTAT FOR A HVAC
Abstract
A thermostat for a HVAC comprising: a data communication port
for connection to the HVAC, wherein the thermostat is arranged to
communicate via the data communication port an operating parameter
of the HVAC, and estimate an energy consumption of the HVAC from
the communicated operating parameter of the HVAC. The operating
parameter may express a fraction of a nominal load of the HVAC, the
thermostat being arranged to estimate the energy consumption from a
multiplication of the operating parameter and a nominal energy
consumption parameter of the HVAC at the nominal load.
Inventors: |
Boesveld; Willem; (PG De
Vecht, NL) ; Kalk; Hendrik Johannes; (Deventer,
NL) ; Herman Van Wijk; Cornelis Jan; (Apeldoorn,
NL) ; Zavialova; Tetiana; (Krolevets, UA) ;
Cusell; Erica; (Deventer, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Boesveld; Willem
Kalk; Hendrik Johannes
Herman Van Wijk; Cornelis Jan
Zavialova; Tetiana
Cusell; Erica |
PG De Vecht
Deventer
Apeldoorn
Krolevets
Deventer |
|
NL
NL
NL
UA
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
Robert Bosch GmbH
Stuttgart
DE
|
Family ID: |
48626570 |
Appl. No.: |
14/256570 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/278 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 19/1066 20130101;
F24F 11/30 20180101; G05B 2219/2642 20130101; G05D 23/1905
20130101; H04Q 2209/60 20130101; H04Q 9/00 20130101; F24F 2140/60
20180101; G05D 23/1917 20130101; H04Q 2209/823 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/278 |
International
Class: |
G05D 23/19 20060101
G05D023/19 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2013 |
NL |
2010658 |
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A thermostat for a HVAC, comprising: a thermostat arrangement
including a data communication port for connection to the HVAC;
wherein the thermostat arrangement is configured to communicate via
the data communication port an operating parameter of the HVAC, and
to estimate an energy consumption of the HVAC from the communicated
operating parameter of the HVAC.
20. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the operating parameter
expresses a fraction of a nominal load of the HVAC, and wherein the
thermostat is configured to estimate the energy consumption from a
multiplication of the operating parameter and a nominal energy
consumption parameter of the HVAC at the nominal load.
21. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the thermostat is
configured to accumulate the estimated energy consumption over
time.
22. The thermostat of claim 21, wherein the accumulating the
estimated energy consumption over time comprises accumulating the
operating parameter over time, and multiplying the accumulated
operating parameter by the nominal energy consumption to obtain the
accumulated estimated energy consumption.
23. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the thermostat is
configured to compare the estimated energy consumption with a
predetermined threshold, and to display an icon on a display device
of the thermostat when the estimated energy consumption is below
the threshold.
24. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the thermostat arrangement
is configured to start a timer in response to receiving a tap water
heating active message, periodically increase the timer value as
long as the tap water heating active message is received, compare
the timer value with an shower notification timer value, and send a
tap water temperature low signal to the HVAC when reaching or
exceeding the shower notification timer value.
25. The thermostat of claim 24, wherein the thermostat arrangement
is configured to store a pre-notification timer value of the timer
having a value to be reached by the timer before reaching the
shower notification timer value, compare the timer value with a
shower pre-notification timer value, and send a tap water pulse
temperature low signal to the HVAC wherein reaching the shower
pre-notification timer value for the HVAC to pulse the tap water
temperature to a lower value.
26. The thermostat of claim 19, wherein the thermostat arrangement
is configured to receive an event setpoint, the event setpoint
being associated to an event time and an event temperature, and to
set a clock program to the received event temperature starting from
the event time.
27. The thermostat of claim 26, further comprising: a further data
communication port for connection to a data communication network,
wherein the thermostat arrangement is configured to receive the
event setpoint via the further date communication port.
28. The thermostat of claim 26, wherein the event setpoints include
at least one of wake up, leave, come home and sleep.
29. The thermostat of claim 26, wherein the event setpoint includes
an alarm clock time.
30. The thermostat of claim 27, wherein the thermostat arrangement
is configured to establish a connection via the further data
communication port to an electronic home appliance connect with the
data communication network, to monitor if the appliance is active,
and to set a thermostat setpoint to a comfort temperature when the
appliance is active.
31. The thermostat of claim 30, wherein the appliance includes at
least one of a television, a tablet computer and a smartphone.
32. The thermostat of claim 30, wherein the thermostat is
configured to establish via the further data communication port a
connection to a wireless communication network, to receive via the
wireless communication network information about a connection to or
location of a mobile user device, to derive from the received
information about the connection to or location of the mobile user
device if the mobile user device resides in a predetermined
proximity area, to set a temperature setpoint of the thermostat to
a comfort temperature when derived that the mobile user device
resides in the predetermined proximity zone, and to set the
temperature setpoint of the thermostat to an absence temperature
when derived that the mobile user device does not reside in the
predetermined proximity zone.
33. The thermostat of claim 32, wherein a first comfort temperature
setpoint is associated with a first mobile user device and a second
comfort temperature set point is associated with a second mobile
user device, and wherein the thermostat arrangement is configured
to set the comfort temperature to the first comfort temperature
setpoint when having derived that the first mobile user device
resides in the predetermined proximity zone, to set the comfort
temperature to the second comfort temperature set point when having
derived that the second mobile user device resides in the
predetermined proximity zone, and to set the comfort temperature to
a highest one of the first and second comfort temperature setpoints
if it is derived that the first and second mobile user devices
reside in the predetermined proximity zone.
34. The thermostat of claim 30, wherein the thermostat is
configured to store location data representing a geo-location of
the thermostat, and to request via the further data communication
port a temperature at the geo-location.
35. The thermostat of claim 30, wherein the display device includes
a touch sensitive display, and wherein the thermostat arrangement
is configured to block a touch input signal from the touch
sensitive display for a predetermined period after detecting a
touch moving from a first zone of the touch sensitive display to a
second zone of the touch sensitive display.
36. The thermostat of claim 35, wherein the first zone and the
second zone extend along opposite edges of the touch sensitive
display.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a thermostat.
[0002] Thermostats for controlling a room temperature in e.g.
domestic heating systems are widely used. The thermostat may be
used for control of a domestic heating device of a domestic heating
system such as a central heating system, for providing heated
liquid medium to a radiator of the heating system and/or providing
heated tap water. In particular, domestic heating devices are part
of a central heating system in buildings, for example houses. The
heated liquid medium is supplied to a radiator, such as a
wall-mounted panel, for heating the building and/or for providing
heated tap water. The thermostat may also be used to control an air
conditioner and/or a ventilation, or any combination of heating,
ventilation and air conditioning. Generally, a device for heating,
ventilation and/or air conditioning is referred to in this document
as a HVAC.
[0003] From originally being implemented as electromechanical
devices that switch the heating system on and off in dependence on
a temperature sensitive switching element, the thermostats
developed into electronic control devices, with added functionality
such as an electronic clock thermostat that raises and lowers a
temperature setpoint in accordance with a preset clock program.
Furthermore, the previous on-off control developed into a modulated
control, whereby a heating power output of the domestic heating
device of the heating system is modulated in steps or continuously
over a heating power range.
[0004] The invention aims to provide an improved thermostat.
[0005] In order to achieve this goal, according to a first aspect
of the invention, there is provided a thermostat for a HVAC
comprising: [0006] a data communication port for connection to the
HVAC, wherein the thermostat is arranged to [0007] communicate via
the data communication port an operating parameter of the HVAC; and
[0008] estimate an energy consumption of the HVAC from the
communicated operating parameter of the HVAC. The thermostat
calculates an estimation of the energy consumption from an
operating parameter of the HVAC. The operating parameter is thereto
communicated between the HVAC and the thermostat. The operating
parameter may be a setting that is determined by the thermostat in
order to be transmitted (communicated) to the HVAC or a parameter
that is sent (communicated) from the HVAC and received by the
thermostat. As the energy consumption is estimated from an
operating parameter of the HVAC, no data is required from an energy
meter (e.g. a gas meter or a electricity meter as applicable) which
enables to obtain an estimate of the energy consumption of the HVAC
even in combination with conventional energy meter that does not
incorporate any data communication facilities. The energy may be
gas (such as natural gas, biogas), electricity or any suitable
energy source. An accurate result may be obtained using as
operating parameter a modulation level of the burner, as this
parameter is in a direct relation to the momentary energy
consumption, e.g. gas consumption. The modulation level may be
determined by the thermostat (and communicated to the HVAC) or may
be determined by the HVAC (and communicated to the thermostat). The
thermostat may determine an estimated energy consumption by
multiplying the modulation level with a nominal energy consumption
parameter of the HVAC. For example, in case the nominal energy
consumption parameter of the HVAC yields a gas consumption of 1 m 3
per hour, and the modulation level would be 40%, the estimated
energy consumption would yield 40% of 1 m 3 per hour, being 0.4 m 3
per hour. In case of an on-off control of the HVAC, the operating
parameter may be a percentage of time during which the HVAC is on,
which parameter may similarly be multiplied by the nominal energy
consumption parameter to obtain an estimated energy consumption.
The nominal energy consumption parameter may be stored in the HVAC
and transmitted to the thermostat, or may be programmed into the
thermostat, e.g. at installation. Alternatively, the thermostat may
store a table of nominal energy consumption parameter values per
type of HVAC, and upon receipt of a type code from the HVAC, read a
corresponding one of the nominal energy consumption parameter
values from the table. Accordingly, an accurate estimation of the
energy consumption which takes account of the type of HVAC, may be
obtained by using a nominal energy consumption parameter.
Generally, the thermostat is connected via its data communication
port to the HVAC for controlling an operation of the HVAC so as to
achieve a temperature setpoint as set by the thermostat. The
thermostat may communicate via the data communication port with the
HVAC (and/or vice versa) by means of an on/off signal, a data
communication protocol such as a standard or proprietary data
communication protocol, or any other suitable means. The connection
from the thermostat to the HVAC via the data communication port may
be a wired 1 to 1 connection, however other types of connection are
possible too, for example a wired data communication network type
connection, a wireless data communication network type connection
such as an RF connection, Zigbee, etc. It is noted that in case of
the application of such a network connection between the thermostat
and the HVAC, the data communication port and the further data
communication port via which the thermostat may communicate with a
user device, a server, etc. (as will be described below) may
communicate via a same network, such as a home automation
network.
[0009] In a combustion type HVAC, the operating parameter may
alternatively or further comprise a combustion supply air stream
parameter, for example a ventilator rotational speed, a combustion
supply air stream as measured by a sensor, etc. Given a typical
ratio between fuel (e.g. gas, oil) and air required for combustion,
the supply of air to the combustion process in the HVAC provides an
indication of the amount of fuel as consumed.
[0010] As illustrated from the above examples, the thermostat may
be arranged to multiply the operating parameter by the nominal
energy consumption parameter, thereby obtaining a reliable.
estimate from an operating parameter that expresses a fraction of
the nominal load of the HVAC (namely in these examples the
modulation level) and a nominal energy consumption at nominal load
(i.e. an energy consumption of the HVAC at nominal load, i.e. in
the above example at a modulation level of 100%).
[0011] The operating parameter may instead of or in addition to the
above examples comprise a temperature of the heating fluid (e.g.
heating water) as output by the HVAC, a temperature of the heating
fluid as provided to the HVAC and/or a heating fluid circulation
flow rate parameter, e.g. a pump speed of a heating fluid
circulation pump. The thermostat may determine a temperature
difference between the heating fluid as output by the HVAC and as
provided to the HVAC and deriving a heat output of the HVAC from
the heating fluid circulation flow rate parameter and the
determined temperature difference. An energy consumption may be
estimated from the heat output. An efficiency ratio, such as an
average efficiency ratio as stored in the thermostat may be taken
into account to estimate the energy consumption.
[0012] The HVAC may comprise any heating device, such as a domestic
heating device, such as a gas fired heater, an oil fired heater, a
combination of a gas or oil fired heater with a solar system and/or
heat pump, etc., a ventilation device, and/or an air conditioner
device, or any combination of these devices. Thus, the term HVAC
may be understood as a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning
device.
[0013] In order to calculate a total energy consumption over a
certain time period, the thermostat may be arranged to accumulate
the estimated energy consumption over time.
[0014] In an embodiment, the accumulating the estimated energy
consumption over time comprises accumulating the operating
parameter over time, and multiplying the accumulated operating
parameter by the nominal energy consumption to obtain the
accumulated estimated energy consumption. As a result, the
determination of the estimated energy consumption and associated
calculations need not be repetitively made, hence reducing a data
processing load on the thermostat as the remaining calculation need
only be made once. Thereto, the parameter (e.g. the modulation
level) may e.g. be logged periodically, e.g. once per second, and
accumulated over a certain time period to derive an estimate of a
total energy consumption over the logged time period.
[0015] In case the HVAC comprises a plurality of functions, logging
of the operating parameter may be performed per function, so that
an estimate of the energy consumption may be provided per function.
For example, in case of a domestic heating device with integrated
tap water heating, the operating parameter may be logged for the
space heating and for the tap water heating separately, so that
estimates of both may be provided. Generally the estimated energy
consumption may be displayed to the user on a display of the
thermostat and/or transmitted by the thermostat to a user device,
such as a mobile telephone, computer, etc. The thermostat may
thereto be connected to a data network, as will be described in
more detail elsewhere in this document.
[0016] The thermostat may be arranged to compare the estimated
energy consumption with a predetermined threshold, and to display
an icon on the display device when the estimated energy consumption
is below the threshold. The icon may thereby indicate to the user
that the energy consumption is below a certain level as set by the
threshold, so that economic heating may be indicated.
[0017] A forecast of a total energy consumption over a time period
may be made, e.g. by linearly extrapolating an estimated energy
consumption over a past sub time period. This may for example be
useful for forecasting a total consumption of e.g. a present month,
based on the estimate as determined over e.g. a past week. For
forecasting over larger time periods, seasonal effects may be taken
into account, e.g. by scaling the estimated total energy
consumption over a past time period in a previous year, the scaling
being performed based on a comparison of this year's energy
estimate over a past sub time period with the energy estimate over
the sub time period in the previous years. For example, having
stored the energy estimate data over last year, the thermostat may
at the end of February, based on the stored estimate of January and
February of the present year, and the comparison with the stored
estimate of January and February of the previous year, forecast a
total energy consumption over the present years by dividing the
stored estimate of January and February of the present year by
stored estimate of January and February of the previous year, and
multiplying by the stored estimate of the entire previous year.
Generally, dividing the stored estimate of the present sub-time
period by stored estimate of the sub time period of the previous
year, and multiplying by the stored estimate of the entire time
period of the previous year.
[0018] According to a second aspect of the invention, the
thermostat is arranged for [0019] starting a timer in response to
receiving a tap water heating active message, [0020] periodically
increasing the timer value as long as the tap water heating active
message is received, [0021] comparing the timer value with an
shower notification timer value, and [0022] sending a tap water
temperature low signal to the HVAC when reaching or exceeding the
shower notification timer value. Thereby, energy and water saving
may be provided, as when a user takes a shower which exceeds a
predetermined maximum showering time as set by the timer value, the
supply of heated water may be stopped, for example in that the
heating of the tap water by the HVAC is stopped or in that a tap
water temperature setpoint is decreased. The shower notification
timer value may e.g. be user defined. The heating of tap water may
be interrupted for example for a predetermined time, e.g. a minute
or a few minutes (which may likewise be timed by the timer),
enabling to provide heated tap water again for a next person taking
a shower. The timer may be reset by the thermostat each time when
heated tap water has been provided by the HVAC and a supply of the
tap water is stopped before the timer reaching the notification
timer value, so as to avoid the supply of heated tap water to be
stopped unintentionally.
[0023] A pre-notification that the time is soon to expire, e.g. in
the form of a short pulse of colder water, may be provided to the
user in that the thermostat is further arranged for [0024] storing
a pre-notification timer value of the timer having a value to be
reached by the timer before reaching the shower notification timer
value, [0025] comparing the timer value with a shower
pre-notification timer value, and [0026] sending a tap water pulse
temperature low signal to the HVAC when reaching the shower
pre-notification timer value in order for the HVAC to pulse the tap
water temperature to a lower value.
[0027] According to a third aspect of the invention, the thermostat
is arranged for: [0028] receiving an event setpoint, the event
setpoint being associated to an event time and an event
temperature, [0029] setting a clock program to the received event
temperature starting from the event time. By entering a programming
of the thermostat in a form of events, a convenient, fast and
easily understood programming may be provided, as a user only is
required to enter data relating to the event: its time and an
associated temperature. For example: wake up at 7 a.m., set
temperature to 18 degrees Celsius, leave home at 8 a.m. and set
temperature to 15 degrees Celsius, etc. Instead of entering a
temperature for each event, the user may associate each event with
a certain preset temperature, e.g. a vacation temperature, an
absence temperature, a comfort temperature, etc. [0030] The
thermostat may comprise a further data communication port (such as
a wired or wireless network connection), the thermostat being
arranged to receive the event setpoint via the further data
communication port. The event setpoint may be set at a remote
control application, which may for example run on a smartphone,
notebook computer, tablet computer, any other smart device (such as
a smart TV), at the thermostat itself, etc., whereby the remote
control application communicates with the thermostat via the
further data communication port. The thermostat may be connected,
via the further data communication port, with a data communication
network, to which the device at which the remote control
application runs, also connects.
[0031] The event setpoints may for example comprise at least one of
wake up, leave, come home and sleep.
[0032] The event setpoint may be provided by an alarm clock and may
comprise an alarm clock time. The alarm clock time (such as an
alarm clock of a mobile telephone, smartphone, etc.) may be
transmitted via the data communication network (e.g. a wireless
network to which both the thermostat and the mobile telephone,
smart phone, etc., are connected, such as a Wi-Fi wireless network,
etc.) to the thermostat, enabling the thermostat to synchronize an
event (such a awake up event) to the alarm clock time. Other
events, such as entered in an electronic agenda of the smartphone,
telephone, tablet computer of the user, etc., may be sent to the
thermostat and applied by the thermostat to derive event settings
therefrom. Examples may include: children arriving home early, away
on weekend trip, etc. may trigger the thermostat to set events
accordingly so as to raise the temperature to a comfort temperature
as of the moment the children arrive from school, lower the
temperature to a vacation temperature as of the moment of being
away on a weekend trip, etc.
[0033] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the
thermostat comprises a further data communication port and be
arranged to [0034] establish a connection via the further data
communication port to an electronic home appliance; and [0035] to
monitor if the electronic home appliance is active; and [0036] to
set a thermostat setpoint to a comfort temperature when the
electronic home appliance is active. For example on a Friday night,
in a weekend, etc., a user may tend to deviate from normal
schedules and for example stay awake longer, for example watching
television. The electronic home appliance that is active then (for
example a smart television, a smartphone, etc.) may communicate
with the thermostat (via e.g. a (wireless) network at home) causing
the thermostat to stay at comfort level as long as the electronic
home appliance is active. In an embodiment, the electronic home
appliance may be provided with a thermostat communication software
application, such as a thermostat communication software app, which
is arranged to detect when the electronic home appliance is on, to
transmits data to the thermostat to indicate to the thermostat that
the electronic home appliance is on. The thermostat may then
maintain the comfort temperature in response to the receipt of the
data that indicates that the electronic home appliance is on.
Alternatively, the thermostat may be arranged to interrogate a
network communication device (such as a network router) of a
network to which the electronic home appliance is connected,
whether the electronic home appliance is on, and maintain the
comfort temperature in response to the receipt of data that
indicates that the electronic home appliance is active. As a
further alternative, the thermostat may be arranged to ping an
address of the appliance (e.g. an Internet protocol IP address),
and when receiving a response, the thermostat is aware of the
appliance being active. The appliance may for example be at least
one of a television, a tablet computer and a smartphone.
[0037] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the thermostat
comprises the further data communication port and may be arranged
to [0038] establish a connection via the further data communication
port to a wireless communication network, [0039] receive from the
wireless communication network information about a connection to or
location of a mobile user device, [0040] derive from the received
information about the connection to or location of the mobile user
device if the mobile user device resides in a predetermined
proximity area; and [0041] setting a temperature setpoint of the
thermostat to a comfort temperature when derived that the mobile
user device resides in the predetermined proximity zone, and [0042]
setting the temperature setpoint of the thermostat to an absence
temperature when derived that the mobile user device does not
reside in the predetermined proximity zone.
[0043] Thereby, as users tend to take their mobile user device with
them, the presence or absence of the mobile user device in the
proximity zone may be user by the thermostat to correspondingly set
the temperature setpoint to presence or absence. The proximity zone
may be defined in various ways. As a practical example, the
proximity zone is determined by a coverage area of a wireless home
local area network, e.g. a Wi-Fi network in situ, so that, when the
mobile user device connects to the wireless network, the
temperature level is set by the thermostat to comfort level and
vice versa. A software program running on the users mobile
communication device may transmit its location, or the fact that it
connects to the wireless communication network, or similar
information to the thermostat, which in response thereto sets the
temperature accordingly. The proximity zone may also be determined
by a predetermined maximum distance in geo-location between the
thermostat and the users mobile device. The mobile user device may
determine its position, and send it to the thermostat via wireless
data communication. The determined position of the users mobile
user device may be compared with a geo-location of the thermostat
and/or the HVAC, which comparison may be performed by the
thermostat. Alternatively, the mobile user device may perform the
comparison and send the outcome (the mobile user device in the
proximity zone or out of the proximity zone) to the thermostat.
[0044] Different comfort temperatures may be associated with
different users, accordingly the thermostat may comprise a first
comfort temperature setpoint associated with a first mobile user
device and a second comfort temperature setpoint associated with a
second mobile user device, the thermostat being arranged to set the
comfort temperature to the first comfort temperature setpoint when
having derived that the first mobile user device resides in the
predetermined proximity zone, set the comfort temperature to the
second comfort temperature setpoint when having derived that the
second mobile user device resides in the predetermined proximity
zone and [0045] set the comfort temperature to a highest one of the
first and second comfort temperature setpoints when having derived
that the first and second mobile user devices reside in the
predetermined proximity zone.
[0046] Accordingly to a sixth aspect of the invention, the
thermostat comprises the further data communication port and is
arranged for: [0047] storing location data representing a
geo-location of the thermostat, and [0048] requesting via the
further data communication port a temperature at the geo-location
Hence, an outdoor temperature may be acquired by the thermostat
without requiring to install an outdoor temperature senor and
associated cabling. The thermostat may control the HVAC using a
measured indoor temperature (e.g. measured by means of a
temperature sensor of the thermostat), the received temperature at
the geo location, or both. In case the outside temperature is
accompanied by a prognosis, the thermostat may take account
thereof, For example, in case of prognoses of a temperature rise,
the thermostat may control the HVAC so as to reduce a heating by
the HVAC, so as to save energy by the anticipation.
[0049] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the display
device of the thermostat comprises a touch sensitive display, the
thermostat being arranged for: [0050] blocking a touch input signal
from the touch sensitive display for a predetermined time period
after detecting a touch moving from a first zone of the touch
sensitive display to a second zone of the touch sensitive display.
[0051] Cleaning of the touch screen may be enabled (without risking
that the cleaning motion changes settings or otherwise results in
unintended commands) by the blocking of the touch screen. The
blocking of the touch screen may be effected for a predetermined
time, e.g. one minute, and an icon or other information that
informs the user about the blocking state, may correspondingly be
displayed on the display. For user convenience, and to easily
distinguish the touch that instructs the thermostat to go into the
blocking state, from another touch, the first and second zones may
extend along opposite edges (e.g. a left and right side, a top and
bottom side) of the touch sensitive display.
[0052] In order to avoid the display to go into unintended
blocking, thus distinguishing an intended blocking motion from
another one, the touch sensitive display may be blocked for the
predetermined time period only when a direction of movement of the
touch from the first zone to the second zone has an angle of less
then 45 degrees in respect of a direction perpendicular to the
edges along which the first and second zones extend.
[0053] Alternatively or additionally to the restriction of the
angle of movement to 45 degrees in respect of the direction
perpendicular to the edges along which the first and second zones
extend, the zones may extend along a half or a quarter of the
length of the edge, allowing to prevent unintended blocking by a
user making a swipe movement while being sufficiently large to
allow the user to activate the blocking when intended. It will be
understood that the various aspects of the invention may be
combined into a same thermostat, however each of the disclosed
aspects may be implemented as such, i.e. without implementing other
aspects of the invention in the same thermostat.
[0054] The invention will further be explained in the context of
the appended drawing and corresponding description, in which a non
limiting embodiment of the invention is disclosed, wherein:
[0055] FIG. 1 depicts a block schematic overview of a heating
system comprising a thermostat according to One or more of the
aspects of the invention;
[0056] FIG. 2 depicts a schematic front view of a thermostat in
accordance with one or more aspects of the invention; and
[0057] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic front view of a thermostat in
accordance with one or more aspects of the invention.
[0058] FIG. 1 depicts a thermostat TH, such as a room thermostat,
which is connected via a wired connection to a HVAC, such as in
this example a domestic heating device HD, such as a gas fired
heating device or any other heating device, e.g. of a central
heating system, a tap water heating device or a combined heating
device that provides central heating as well as tap water heating.
It will be understood that, although in the examples as described
reference is made to a (domestic) heating device, any other type of
HVAC could be applied as well. The connection between the domestic
heating device and the thermostat may be a wired connection.
Generally, use is made of a standard wiring as may be pre-installed
in the domestic environment, e.g. a dual lead, triple lead or
quadruple lead cable. Conventionally, the wired connection was used
for on-off switching, however use may be made of a data exchange
protocol, while electric power may be supplied from the heating
device to the thermostat via the same leads or separate leads of
the connection. The thermostat is equipped with a data
communication port, such as a data communication interface, or in
more conventional implementations an on-off switch, etc.
Optionally, electrical power may be supplied to the thermostat via
the same port (e.g. a two wire connection for combined data
communication and electrical power supply). The thermostat TH is
connected to a communication network, in this example a data
communication network, more particularly a wireless data
communication network, such as a Wi-Fi network or a network or
other data communication link in accordance with any other wireless
data communication standard. The thermostat thereto comprises a
further data communication port, such as in this example a wireless
data communication port. The network in this example also connects
to a mobile user device MUD, such as a smartphone or a tablet
computer. Furthermore, the network in this example connects to a
television, such as a so called smart television or Internet
enabled television. The wireless communication network may connect
via the Internet to a variety of servers that may provide data,
such as a weather server that provides weather data. The server may
provide a plurality of services, for example weather data, time
data (that provides an exact time for setting a clock of the
thermostat), software update data, etc. The services may be
provided by the server itself, or may in turn be requested by the
server from some other network entity that is connected to the
internet.
[0059] FIG. 2 depicts a schematic front view of the thermostat TH,
and shows a touch sensitive display TDS. Information depicted on
the touch sensitive display comprises a temperature TMP depicted in
numeric digits, and a 12 hour time scale TS which is represented by
a circular scale surrounding the temperature display IMP. A
coloured line segments of a coloured circle, concentric with the
circular scale, indicates a setpoint temperature using a colour
tone, whereby blue colour tones represent low temperatures and red
colour tones represent higher temperatures. An infrared presence
detector IRD may be provided to detect a presence of a person. The
thermostat may be arranged to bring the display of the thermostat
into an active state when a presence of a person is detected, and
bring the display into a standby state otherwise, thus saving
energy and increasing an operational life time of the
thermostat.
[0060] A variety of aspects of the invention may be implemented in
the thermostat TH, for example by means of suitable software
programming of the thermostat. The aspects as described below may
be implemented each as such, or may be combined into a single
thermostat. It is thus expressly noted that the various aspects of
the invention may, but not necessarily need to be combined with
each other. Each of these aspects will be described below.
Energy Consumption
[0061] In order to estimate an energy consumption, the thermostat
receives via the data communication port an operating parameter of
the domestic heating device. The heating device may periodically
send the operating parameter to the thermostat, by itself or on (a
one time or repeated) request from the thermostat. Thus, the
operating parameter may be provided to the thermostat in a polling
type of data exchange, or a push type or in any other suitable way.
The further data communication port is in this example formed by
the wireless communication interface of the thermostat. Any other
communication interface type may be provided, such as a wired
interface, an infrared interface, a one to one connection, a
network connection, etc. Alternatively, the thermostat may
determine the operating parameter of the heating device and sent it
to the heating device, thereby the thermostat controlling an
operation of the heating device. Anyhow, having obtained the
operating parameter, the thermostat estimates an energy consumption
of the heating device from the operating parameter. The operating
parameter is in this example a modulation level of the heating
device. The modulation level, as set by the thermostat, determines
a heat demand, and consequently the heating demand, thus the
modulation level, is in a direct relation to the energy consumption
rate of the heating device. For example, in a gas fired heating
device, the heating device sets a level of the burner
proportionally to the modulation level, thus a gas consumption
being substantially proportional to the modulation level. A
momentary energy consumption, such as gas consumption, of the
heating device may thus be estimated from the operating parameter.
The operating parameter such as the modulation level (or other
parameter that represents a fraction of the nominal load of the
heating device) may be multiplied by a nominal energy consumption
parameter (e.g. a full load energy consumption) so as to provide an
accurate estimate taking account of the typical energy consumption
of the heating device.
[0062] By accumulating the estimated energy consumption over time
e.g. per hour, per day, per week, etc, an estimated total energy
consumption over such time period may be obtained, which may be
presented to the user, either on the display of the thermostat, or
via the smartphone, tablet, notebook or other user device as
connected to the wireless network. An data processing wise
efficient implementation may be provided in that the thermostat
logs or accumulates the operating parameter (e.g. the modulation
level) and performs the calculation to calculate the energy
consumption from the logged or accumulated data, only when the
estimate is required.
[0063] Furthermore, the estimated energy consumption (or the
averaged estimated energy consumption over an averaging time
period, may be compared with a predetermined threshold, and an icon
be displayed on the display device when the estimated energy
consumption is below the threshold, so as to indicate an economic
operation.
Shower Notification.
[0064] When a user takes a shower, tap water heating is activated
and remains activates during the showering. The heating device
sends its status to the thermostat. A timer may be provided in the
thermostat to keep track of the shower time (i.e. the time during
which the heating device is in a tap water heating status. In order
to warn a user taking a shower that a preset shower time is
exceeded, a warning is provided to the user in that the thermostat
transmits a message to the heating device for (e.g. temporarily)
reducing a tap water heating temperature or a heated tap water
supply rate, causing the user to be aware that the time has
exceeded and/or to stop the showing because of the unpleasant
sensation of colder water. The thermostat thus starts a timer in
response to receiving a tap water heating on message, periodically
increases the timer value as long as the tap water heating on
message is received, compares the timer value with an shower
notification timer value, and sends a tap water temperature low
signal to the domestic heating device when reaching or exceeding
the shower notification timer value.
[0065] In order to prevent the user from being suddenly faced with
cold(er) water or no water, a pre notification is provided by the
thermostat in the form of a brief interruption of the heated tap
water supply or a brief temperature reduction thereof. A
corresponding command may be sent by the thermostat to the heating
device when a pre-notification value of the timer is reached. The
shower time and pre-notification time may for example be set by a
user, e.g. selected in a corresponding input menu at the touch
sensitive display of the thermostat, or via the smartphone,
computer or other connected device. For example, the shower time
may be set at 15 or 20 minutes and the corresponding
pre-notification time 3 minutes before expiry of the shower
time.
Event Clock Program
[0066] Clock program setting conventionally requires a user to
enter a time span and a temperature setpoint as desired during such
time span. The user would thus for example enter from 0 h-7 h 15
temperature at 15 degrees, from 7 h 15 to 8 h 15 at 18 degrees,
from 8 h 15 to 18 h 00 at 15 degrees, from 18 h 15 to 22 h 30 at 20
degrees and from 22 h 30 to 24 h 00 at 15 degrees. A user
convenient and fast alternative way of programming is provided in
that event setpoints are entered. Using the above schedule as an
example, the following setpoints may be entered: 7 h 15: wakeup,
8.15 leave, 18.15 home, 22.30 sleep. Event setpoints may thus be
entered each being associated to an event time and event
temperature. The clock program then follows to the corresponding
temperature starting from the event time. [0067] The user may enter
the event temperature in the form of a temperature setting or in
the form of an activity, to which a pre-set or user-set temperature
may be related. By setting the temperature in the form of an
activity, an easy, fast and user convenient programming is
provided, as the user would only need to set (e.g. select)
corresponding times and activities. The preset events from which
the user may select may for example comprise wake up, leave, come
home, sleep and/or vacation. A corresponding temperature is
associated with each event.
[0068] A further advantage may be provided to the user in that the
events as entered into the thermostat may be synchronized to events
as for example set in an electronic agenda of a user device, such
as a user's smartphone or computer. For example, an alarm clock
time as set by the user may be transmitted to the thermostat by
software residing in the user device, a remote control software
running on the user device may thereto be provided with an alarm
clock function that interacts with the clock program as described
so that the thermostat synchronizes its wake up event to the
received alarm clock time.
Presence Detection 1
[0069] A clock program of the thermostat may also be adjusted or
overruled from a monitoring of user activity. For example, the
thermostat may receive data from an electronic home appliance, such
as a smart television, a smartphone, a tablet computer etc. that at
least informs the thermostat that the appliance is active (which in
turn may be an indication of the presence of a user). The
thermostat may either connect with a software program running on
the appliance, which software program informs the thermostat if the
appliance is on, or the thermostat may contact a router or other
element of the wireless network WiFi, in order to receive data
therefrom that signals the appliance is active (i.e. is involved in
network communication or not). As a further possible
implementation, the thermostat may be arranged to ping an address
of the appliance (e.g. an internet protocol IP address), and when
receiving a response, the thermostat is aware of the appliance
being active. As long as the appliance is active, by the thermostat
will keep the setpoint temperature at a comfort level. i.e. at a
level corresponding to a presence of the user, and may thereby
overrule a clock program.
Presence Detection 2
[0070] The presence or absence of a user may be detected by the
thermostat from a location of a mobile user device, such as a
mobile user device (e.g. a telephone, a smartphone, etc.) Thereto,
the thermostat receives via the wireless communication network
information about a connection to or location of the user device.
The thermostat may either receive data that signals that the user
device is connected to the wireless local network (and therefore,
is in proximity of the building) or data that informs the
thermostat about a location of the user device (such as derived
from a position of the user device as derived from a GPS position
measurement device comprised in the user device). The thermostat
derives from the received data about the connection to or location
of the mobile user device if the mobile user device resides in a
predetermined proximity area (i.e. an area in and/or around the
building) and the thermostat sets its temperature setpoint to a
comfort temperature when derived that the mobile user device
resides in the predetermined proximity zone, and to an absence
temperature when derived that the mobile user device does not
reside in the predetermined proximity zone. Alternatively, the user
device determines from the measured location if the location is
within the proximity zone and sends the outcome of the
determination to the thermostat. Thus, when the user device is
signaled to be in or near the building, the temperature setpoint is
raised so that the heating device may be activated, while a
detection of an absence of the user device automatically leads to a
lowering of the temperature so as to automatically save energy in
case the user device is not present.
[0071] In case of multiple users (e.g. multiple inhabitants of the
building where the heating device and thermostat are installed)
each user device is associated by the thermostat with a
corresponding setpoint temperature. When a user is detected to be
present (as derived from the presence of the corresponding user
device) the thermostat sets the setpoint temperature to the
setpoint temperature associated with the user device whose presence
has been detected. Thus, in case user device A is associated with a
comfort temperature of 19.degree. C. and user device 2 with a
comfort temperature of 20.degree. C., the thermostat sets his
setpoint temperature to 19.degree. C. when user device 1 is
detected to be present and to 20.degree. C. when user device 2 is
detected to be present. When both user devices are detected, the
thermostat sets the setpoint temperature to the highest one of the
associated setpoints of the user devices that are detected to be
present, i.e. in this example the thermostat will set its setpoint
to 20.degree. C. (i.e. the highest one of 19 and 20.degree.
C.).
Outdoor Temperature Sensor
[0072] In order to obviate a need for installing an outdoor
temperature sensor, the thermostat may connect via the Wi-Fi
network or other communication interface with a server that
provides weather information The thermostat stores location data
representing a geo-location (e.g. position, address,
geo-coordinates, GPS coordinates, etc.) of the thermostat, and in
order to obtain an cuticle outdoor temperature, requests from the
server a temperature at the geo-location.
Touch Sensitive Display Locking
[0073] In order to allow convenient cleaning of the touch sensitive
display of the thermostat, the thermostat blocks a touch input
signal from the touch sensitive display (i.e. blocks touch signals
received at the display) for a predetermined time period (e.g. a
minute) after detecting a predetermined touch, an example of which
being depicted in FIG. 3, e.g. a touch MV moving from a first zone
(e.g. an edge zone E1) of the touch sensitive display TDS to a
second zone (e.g. a second edge zone E2 opposite to the first edge
zone) of the touch sensitive display TDS. The first and second
zones for example extend along opposite edges of the touch
sensitive display.
[0074] In order to distinguish a blocking touch swipe from another
one, the touch sensitive display is blocked only when a direction
of movement of the touch from the first zone Z1 to the second zone
Z2 has an angle .alpha. of less than 45 degrees in respect of a
direction perpendicular to the left and right edges of the display.
Alternatively or additionally to the restriction of the angle of
movement to 45 degrees in respect of the direction perpendicular to
the edges along which the first and second zones extend, the zones
may extend along a half length HL or a quarter length QL of the
edge, allowing to prevent unintended blocking by a user making a
swipe movement while being sufficiently large to allow the user to
activate the blocking when intended. In this example, the half
length and quarter length are centered, however alternatively may
be provided for example at an end, e.g. a top side or bottom side
of the edges.
[0075] The functions of the thermostat, such as for example
described in this document, may be implemented by means of for
example software that may be executed by a data processing device,
such as a microprocessor. The software may be updated by a
transmission from the server, via the internet and the data network
(such as in the depicted example the WiFi network) of updated
software to the thermostat.
[0076] Various aspects of the invention also follow from the below
numbered clauses which form part of the description: [0077] 1. A
thermostat for a HVAC comprising: [0078] a data communication port
for connection to the HVAC, [0079] wherein the thermostat is
arranged to [0080] communicate via the data communication port an
operating parameter of the HVAC, and [0081] estimate an energy
consumption of the HVAC from the communicated operating parameter
of the HVAC. [0082] 2. The thermostat according to clause 1,
wherein the operating parameter expresses a fraction of a nominal
load of the HVAC, the thermostat being arranged to estimate the
energy consumption from a multiplication of the operating parameter
and a nominal energy consumption parameter of the HVAC at the
nominal load. [0083] 3. The thermostat according to any of the
preceding clauses, wherein the thermostat is arranged to accumulate
the estimated energy consumption over time. [0084] 4. The
thermostat according to clause 3, wherein the accumulating the
estimated energy consumption over time comprises accumulating the
operating parameter over time, and multiplying the accumulated
operating parameter by the nominal energy consumption to obtain the
accumulated estimated energy consumption. [0085] 5. A thermostat
for a HVAC preferably according to any of the preceding clauses,
wherein the thermostat is arranged to estimate an energy
consumption of the HVAC, compare the estimated energy consumption
with a predetermined threshold, and to display an icon on a display
device of the thermostat when the estimated energy consumption is
below the threshold. [0086] 6. A thermostat for a HVAC preferably
according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the thermostat
is arranged for [0087] starting a timer in response to receiving a
tap water heating active message, [0088] periodically increasing
the timer value as long as the tap water heating active message is
received, [0089] comparing the timer value with an shower
notification timer value, and [0090] sending a tap water
temperature low signal to the HVAC when reaching or exceeding the
shower notification timer value. [0091] 7. The thermostat according
to clause 6, wherein the thermostat is further arranged for [0092]
storing a pre-notification timer value of the timer having a value
to be reached by the timer before reaching the shower notification
timer value, [0093] comparing the timer value with a shower
pre-notification timer value, and [0094] sending a tap water pulse
temperature low signal to the HVAC when reaching the shower
pre-notification timer value in order for the HVAC to pulse the tap
water temperature to a lower value. [0095] 8. A thermostat for a
HVAC preferably according to any of the preceding clauses, being
arranged for [0096] receiving an event setpoint, the event setpoint
being associated to an event time and an event temperature, [0097]
setting a clock program to the received event temperature starting
from the event time. [0098] 9. The thermostat according to clause
8, comprising a further data communication port for connection to a
data communication network, the thermostat being arranged to
receive the event setpoint via the further data communication port.
[0099] 10. The thermostat according to clause 8 or 9, wherein the
event setpoints comprise at least one of wake up, leave, come home
and sleep. [0100] 11. The thermostat according to any of clauses
8-10, wherein the event setpoint comprises an alarm clock time.
[0101] 12. A thermostat for a HVAC preferably according to any of
the preceding clauses, comprising a further data communication port
for connection to a data communication network, the thermostat
being arranged to [0102] establish a connection via the further
data communication port to an electronic home appliance connected
with the data communication network; [0103] monitor if the
appliance is active, and [0104] set a thermostat setpoint to a
comfort temperature when the appliance is active. [0105] 13. The
thermostat according to clause 12, wherein the appliance is at
least One of a television, a tablet computer and a smartphone.
[0106] 14. A thermostat for a HVAC preferably according to any of
the preceding clauses, comprising a further data communication
port, the thermostat being arranged to [0107] establish via the
further data communication port a connection to a wireless
communication network, [0108] receive via the wireless
communication network information about a connection to or location
of a mobile user device, [0109] derive from the received
information about the connection to or location of the mobile user
device if the mobile user device resides in a predetermined
proximity area, [0110] setting a temperature setpoint of the
thermostat to a comfort temperature when derived that the mobile
user device resides in the predetermined proximity zone, and [0111]
setting the temperature setpoint of the thermostat, to an absence
temperature when derived that the mobile user device does not
reside in the predetermined proximity zone. [0112] 15. The
thermostat according to clause 14, comprising a first comfort
temperature setpoint associated with a first mobile user device and
a second comfort temperature setpoint associated with a second
mobile user device, the thermostat being arranged to set the
comfort temperature to the first comfort temperature setpoint when
having derived that the first mobile user device resides in the
predetermined proximity zone, [0113] set the comfort temperature to
the second comfort temperature setpoint when having derived that
the second mobile user device resides in the predetermined
proximity zone, and [0114] set the comfort temperature to a highest
one of the first and second comfort temperature setpoints when
having derived that the first and second mobile user devices reside
in the predetermined proximity zone. [0115] 16. A thermostat for a
HVAC preferably according to any of the preceding clauses
comprising a further data communication port. [0116] wherein the
thermostat is arranged for [0117] storing location data
representing a geo-location of the thermostat, and [0118]
requesting via the further data communication port a temperature at
the geo-location. [0119] 17. A thermostat for a HVAC and comprising
a display device, the thermostat preferably according to any of the
preceding clauses, wherein the display device comprises a touch
sensitive display, the thermostat being arranged for: [0120]
blocking a touch input signal from the touch sensitive display for
a predetermined time period after detecting a touch Moving from a
first zone of the touch sensitive display to a second zone of the
touch sensitive display. [0121] 18. The thermostat according to
clause 17, wherein the first and second zones extend along opposite
edges of the touch sensitive display. [0122] 19. The thermostat
according to clause 17 or 18, wherein the touch sensitive display
is blocked for the predetermined time period only when a direction
of movement of the touch from the first zone to the second zone has
an angle of less then 45 degrees in respect of a direction
perpendicular to the edges along which the first and second zones
extend. [0123] 20. The thermostat according to clause 18 or 19,
wherein the zones extend along a half, preferable a quarter of a
length of the edges.
* * * * *